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On September 19, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on September 19, 2024, Child A's (20-months-old) mom walked in to pick Child A up at around 8:20 p.m. and Child A was alone in the front lobby of the facility. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) West found the allegation to be substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. Which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
AND
5CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. Which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On September 20, 2024, CI Curtis West completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Amy Sands. Amy stated at drop-off on September 10, 2024, Parent A stated that on September 5, 2024, when she came to pick up Child A, he was alone in the lobby. After speaking with Caregiver Debraniah Hurd and Caregiver Laura Keeton, she found out Child A was not in the lobby; he was inside a classroom alone. Laura stated that Debraniah asked her to look after Child A and Child B while she closed the classroom. Laura was leaving for the day, so she transitioned Child A and Child B back to Debraniah. Parent A came to pick up Child A and he was alone in the infant/toddler classroom.
On September 23, 2024, CI West interviewed Laura and Queen. Laura stated that Debraniah asked her to watch Child A and Child B while she closed the classroom. When Debraniah finished closing the classroom, she took her seat at the front desk in the lobby. She handed Child B to Debraniah and told her Child A was on the floor by the preschool window. She left at 6:30 p.m. Queen stated through the window facing the hallway, she could see Child A peeking in while walking the hall. She could see Debraniah at the front desk, so she knew Child A was not alone in the hall. Parent A came into the classroom around 7:45 p.m. looking for Child A. She told Parent A that Child A was not in the class with her. Together they walked out to the front desk to speak with Debraniah. Child A was not with Debraniah, so they checked in the original classroom of Child A. They found Child A alone with his face pressed up against the window facing the hall.
On September 23, 2024, CI West interviewed Parent A, who stated she came to pick up Child A around 7:30 p.m. and was told he was across the hall with another caregiver. She went into that classroom and was told by that caregiver Child A was not in with her. That caregiver went with her back to the lobby to find Child A. Child A was not in the lobby with the caregiver so all three of them started looking for Child A. Child A was found inside his normal classroom alone with the door shut.
On September 30, 2024, CI West interviewed Debraniah, who stated Child A and Child B were the only two children remaining in the classroom. Laura removed Child A and Child B from their classroom so she could clean and close the room. After closing the room, she sat at the front desk in the lobby. Laura left at 6:30 p.m., so she returned Child B to the front desk where she was sitting. Laura stated Child A was in the classroom with Queen. Parent A came to pick up Child A, and she told her Child A was in the classroom with Queen. Parent A returned with Queen and stated Child A was not in that classroom. Together they searched the surrounding hallway and found Child A inside the infant/toddler room alone.
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(2)(B)2.B.(III). Which states: If a unit for infants and toddlers is auxiliary to a facility for older children, centers initially licensed for infant/toddler care after the effective date of these rules or facilities adding new infant/toddler space, shall have play, sleeping and bathroom space in the infant and toddler unit. This space shall be separated from the space used for older children by floor-to-ceiling walls;
On November 20, 2024, CI West interviewed Amy, who stated it is not common to care for infants and toddlers at the front desk in the lobby. Debraniah relocated to the front desk without approval. Child A and Child B were not taken back to the classroom when Laura left because Debraniah had cleaned and closed the room. Child B was logged out of care at 7:59 p.m. on September 5, 2024. Staff is aware that infants require their own space for care. This space shall be separated from the space used for older children by floor-to-ceiling walls.
On November 20, 2024, CI west interviewed Debraniah, who stated that the daycare has put a stop to caring for infants and toddlers in the lobby area. Child B was picked up after 7:30 p.m. on September 5, 2024. She did not take Child A and Child B back into the infant room because she had already cleaned and closed the infant room. She was unaware of the rule about infants being separated from the space used for older children by floor-to-ceiling walls.
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